Reinaldo Merlo

Reinaldo Carlos Merlo (born 20 May 1950) is an Argentine football coach and former player, who played as a midfielder.

Playing career

Known as ''Mostaza'' (mustard) because of his off-blond hair, Merlo played his entire career for River Plate as a defensive midfielder. He was part of the midfield that conquered a string of championships under coach Ángel Labruna between 1975 and 1981, the others being Juan José López and Norberto Alonso.

Merlo was, together with goalkeeper Ubaldo Fillol and defender Daniel Passarella, the backbone of that team. River, nonetheless, purchased several players to fill in Merlo's position, because he was considered a great defender, but a liability once the team got the ball. Among them were Ramiro Pérez, ''Chamaco'' Rodríguez, Della Savia, Cierra, Carranza, Pitarch, de los Santos, and Américo Gallego, who ultimately earned Merlo's position. Before retirement, Merlo mentored an up-and-coming midfielder: Néstor Gorosito. Both Gallego and Gorosito have since met Merlo as rival coaches.

Merlo made over 500 appearances for River. He won seven titles during his time at the club and made 42 appearances in the Superclasico, more than any other player in history.

Managerial career

After the end of his playing career, Merlo studied for an official coach matriculation, and proceeded to train several smaller teams until offered the position of coach at River Plate in 1989, together with Alonso. Merlo and Alonso were dismissed in mid-season after new club president Davicce made good on an election promise to bring Passarella as coach; the team won the championship title, and fans gave Merlo credit for a big part of that success.

In 1999, Merlo commanded Atlético Nacional of Colombia during the first half of the season; albeit successful, his managerial choices proved unpopular, and he resigned from his position. He was subsequently replaced by Luis Fernando Suarez, who would eventually win the tournament. Fans later gave credit to Merlo for his part on the title.

In 2001, Merlo did the almost-impossible and coached the team that ended a 35-year drought for Racing Club. His serenity and his insistence on taking things one match at a time earned him his nickname ''"paso a paso"'' (step by step), after the sentence he often told anxious fans and reporters.

When Carlos Bilardo left Estudiantes in 2004, Merlo was offered the post of coach; the team advanced from relegation danger to the top positions, being a contender both in the 2004 ''Apertura'' and the 2005 ''Clausura''. Merlo recalls fondly that both his debut (in 1969) and his first goal were both against Estudiante

In August 2005, Merlo resigned from his post in Estudiantes. A few weeks later, Leonardo Astrada resigned as River Plate coach, and Merlo was brought in his place.

On 9 January 2006, following a dim campaign in which River failed to contend for the 2005 ''Apertura'', Merlo resigned as River Plate coach, and Passarella was called to fill in. There is controversy about the way he left River Plate during that pre-season of 2006. It is said that Marcelo Gallardo told him that neither he nor his teammates agreed with "his project", and that led to many discussions that made Merlo quit the team, and Gallardo is still blamed for Mostaza's sudden departure.

Merlo since went on to unsuccessful spells as managers at Racing Club and Barcelona SC of Ecuador.

In 2009, he became the manager of Rosario Central but left the club on 15 April 2009 after only five games in charge (won three, tied one and lost one) because of personal problems with the player Ezequiel González.''Miguel Angel Russo llegó a Rosario Central y Diego Simeone lo reemplazará en San Lorenzo''

Merlo returned to managerial functions in February 2013, hired by Club Douglas Haig, playing in Primera B Nacional."Mostaza Merlo vuelve a dirigir: es el nuevo técnico de Douglas Haig"
''Clarín'', 13 February 2013

Honours

Player

River Plate
*Argentine Primera División (7): Metropolitano 1975, Nacional 1975, Metropolitano 1977, Metropolitano 1979, Nacional 1979, Metropolitano 1980, Nacional 1981

Manager

Racing Club
*Argentine Primera División: Apertura 2001

See also

* One club man

References

External links

* at Fútbol XXI

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merlo, Reinaldo
1950 births
Living people
Argentine men's footballers
Club Atlético River Plate footballers
Argentine Primera División players
Footballers from Buenos Aires
Argentine football managers
Argentine expatriate football managers
Club Atlético Los Andes managers
Club Atlético River Plate managers
Argentina national under-20 football team managers
Club Bolívar managers
Deportes Temuco managers
Chacarita Juniors managers
Atlético Nacional managers
Club Atlético Belgrano managers
Racing Club de Avellaneda managers
Estudiantes de La Plata managers
Barcelona S.C. managers
Rosario Central managers
Club Atlético Colón managers
Fuerza Amarilla S.C. managers
Racing de Córdoba managers
Primera B Nacional managers
Argentine Primera División managers
Bolivian Primera División managers
Chilean Primera División managers
Categoría Primera A managers

Torneo Federal A managers
Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Bolivia
Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Chile
Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Colombia
Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Ecuador
Expatriate football managers in Bolivia
Expatriate football managers in Chile
Expatriate football managers in Colombia
Expatriate football managers in Ecuador
Men's association football midfielders
20th-century Argentine sportsmen